For all his amazing performances inside the Octagon, Vitor Belfort is discussed sometimes with an asterik, as many fans and media believe that is use of TRT gives him an unfair advantage. Belfort however believes the drug is necessary for his health and will plan to apply for a therapautic use exemption for the drug for his upcoming title fight with Chris Weidman:

Vitor Belfort told UFC Tonight's Ariel Helwani on Wednesday that he is going to ask for a therapeutic use exemption for testosterone for his next fight, which is expected to be against middleweight champion Chris Weidman later this year in Las Vegas.

The statement contradicted an earlier statement by manager Glenn Robinson, who said on The MMA Hour that he didn't think Belfort would apply for a TUE in Nevada.

Belfort said he regarded the testosterone use as medication that he needs. In theory, a TUE for testosterone should only be granted if someone's natural production of testosterone is at well under normal levels, and thus not having enough testosterone in the body is a health concern. Taking testosterone, an anabolic steroid, is otherwise prohibited in most major sports.

If it's essential to his health, and he doesn't get approved, is his health at risk? By his own accord, he shouldn't get a title shot if he doesn't get approved due to health concerns. TRT, it's a double edged sword

Vitor SHOULD pursue a TUE, because if any of you people actually understood TRT, you would know it's the only way he can actually post normal test levels. Otherwise, he'd be fighting at a major disadvantage to his opponents. Ironically, HIS OPPONENT would have the SAME unfair advantage that Vitor would get if he went back on full-fledged steroids and fought natural athletes. TRT just puts him at normal.

TRT isn't juicing and there's not a damn thing wrong with it, the problem is the testing is dogshit. That's like saying having a glass of wine is binge drinking. It's a bunch of horseshit perpetrated by MMA fans who know fuck-all about TRT and somehow equate it to a steroid cycle.

This is the diciest topic in professional sports. My problem is I'm too dumb to understand why it helps performance, and what trt does to the body. But I am smart enough to understand that he is on trt likely because of prior drug/steroid abuse contributing to his low test.

It's so bizarre that you're given a free powerboost as a reward for past efforts of cheating.

FadeToBlack - Vitor SHOULD pursue a TUE, because if any of you people actually understood TRT, you would know it's the only way he can actually post normal test levels. Otherwise, he'd be fighting at a major disadvantage to his opponents. Ironically, HIS OPPONENT would have the SAME unfair advantage that Vitor would get if he went back on full-fledged steroids and fought natural athletes. TRT just puts him at normal.

TRT isn't juicing and there's not a damn thing wrong with it, the problem is the testing is dogshit. That's like saying having a glass of wine is binge drinking. It's a bunch of horseshit perpetrated by MMA fans who know fuck-all about TRT and somehow equate it to a steroid cycle.

\The thing that really bothers people is the fact that a documented cheater gets to reverse any negative effects of their bad choices and have no consequences.

He can have TRT if he needs it to survive life in general, but it is wrong that he gets to use it to continue to compete.

Vitor should absolutely not fight unless he gets the TUE. The commission would be better just not allowing those on TRT to compete than putting them at that risk.

Sending them in there with no TUE would be like allowing steroid abusers to fight clean guys intentionally. It would undermine the very thing they attempt to eliminate by testing in the first place - the unfair advantage.

The TRT fighter who can't take testosterone would be below the average guy on the street, and would be dropped in a shark tank against athletes with naturally high levels.

FadeToBlack - Vitor SHOULD pursue a TUE, because if any of you people actually understood TRT, you would know it's the only way he can actually post normal test levels. Otherwise, he'd be fighting at a major disadvantage to his opponents. Ironically, HIS OPPONENT would have the SAME unfair advantage that Vitor would get if he went back on full-fledged steroids and fought natural athletes. TRT just puts him at normal.

TRT isn't juicing and there's not a damn thing wrong with it, the problem is the testing is dogshit. That's like saying having a glass of wine is binge drinking. It's a bunch of horseshit perpetrated by MMA fans who know fuck-all about TRT and somehow equate it to a steroid cycle.

\The thing that really bothers people is the fact that a documented cheater gets to reverse any negative effects of their bad choices and have no consequences.

He can have TRT if he needs it to survive life in general, but it is wrong that he gets to use it to continue to compete.

Then the commission should simply not allow those on TRT to fight. But if they will let them fight, a TUE should be standard operating procedure.

FadeToBlack - Vitor SHOULD pursue a TUE, because if any of you people actually understood TRT, you would know it's the only way he can actually post normal test levels. Otherwise, he'd be fighting at a major disadvantage to his opponents. Ironically, HIS OPPONENT would have the SAME unfair advantage that Vitor would get if he went back on full-fledged steroids and fought natural athletes. TRT just puts him at normal.

TRT isn't juicing and there's not a damn thing wrong with it, the problem is the testing is dogshit. That's like saying having a glass of wine is binge drinking. It's a bunch of horseshit perpetrated by MMA fans who know fuck-all about TRT and somehow equate it to a steroid cycle.

Vitor most likely "needs" trt because he abused anabolic steroids in the past...

FadeToBlack - Vitor SHOULD pursue a TUE, because if any of you people actually understood TRT, you would know it's the only way he can actually post normal test levels. Otherwise, he'd be fighting at a major disadvantage to his opponents. Ironically, HIS OPPONENT would have the SAME unfair advantage that Vitor would get if he went back on full-fledged steroids and fought natural athletes. TRT just puts him at normal.

TRT isn't juicing and there's not a damn thing wrong with it, the problem is the testing is dogshit. That's like saying having a glass of wine is binge drinking. It's a bunch of horseshit perpetrated by MMA fans who know fuck-all about TRT and somehow equate it to a steroid cycle.

\The thing that really bothers people is the fact that a documented cheater gets to reverse any negative effects of their bad choices and have no consequences.

He can have TRT if he needs it to survive life in general, but it is wrong that he gets to use it to continue to compete.

Then the commission should simply not allow those on TRT to fight. But if they will let them fight, a TUE should be standard operating procedure.

Im actually cool with that, it means some big names will be forced to retire, but it would be better for the legitimacy of the sport.

GodSaveTheReem - FadeToBlack...just to be clear, you are saying Vitor should just retire?

No. I'm saying give anyone with TRT a TUE, period, regardless of whether it was from prior abuse or from natural hypogonadism.

Only if the above isn't an option would I then default to simply disqualifying those with hypogonadism from competition.

If you want to 'punish' Vitor for past abuse, I think that's the wrong attitude. The attitude instead should be clean up the fucking testing so that it won't matter if guys use TRT, their levels Re still comparable. If that can't be done and guys are manipulating TRT to gain unfair advantages, then settle for just banning all of them until testing gets fixed.

FadeToBlack - Vitor should absolutely not fight unless he gets the TUE. The commission would be better just not allowing those on TRT to compete than putting them at that risk.

Sending them in there with no TUE would be like allowing steroid abusers to fight clean guys intentionally. It would undermine the very thing they attempt to eliminate by testing in the first place - the unfair advantage.

The TRT fighter who can't take testosterone would be below the average guy on the street, and would be dropped in a shark tank against athletes with naturally high levels.

Adulterous_Zucchini - What's the argument for it being dangerous to compete without TRT?

Pretty sure it's just that they're levels are permanently fucked and they'll always be fighting at a "disadvantage" and the trt would level the playing field in a way. Unless they abuse the shit out of it...but just a guess

FadeToBlack - Vitor SHOULD pursue a TUE, because if any of you people actually understood TRT, you would know it's the only way he can actually post normal test levels. Otherwise, he'd be fighting at a major disadvantage to his opponents. Ironically, HIS OPPONENT would have the SAME unfair advantage that Vitor would get if he went back on full-fledged steroids and fought natural athletes. TRT just puts him at normal.

TRT isn't juicing and there's not a damn thing wrong with it, the problem is the testing is dogshit. That's like saying having a glass of wine is binge drinking. It's a bunch of horseshit perpetrated by MMA fans who know fuck-all about TRT and somehow equate it to a steroid cycle.

Vitor most likely "needs" trt because he abused anabolic steroids in the past...

Reply Post

“This is the official website of the Mixed Martial Arts llc. Commercial
reproduction, distribution or transmission of any part or parts of this website
or any information contained therein by any means whatsoever without the prior
written permission is not permitted.”